35 Bible Verses for Dealing with Cultural Adjustment

The customs feel foreign, the language barriers are frustrating, and social norms that once felt natural now seem completely different from what you’ve always known. Whether you’ve moved to a new place or country, married into a different cultural background, started working in an unfamiliar environment, or found yourself navigating generational cultural shifts, you’re experiencing the disorienting challenge of cultural adjustment that affects everything from daily routines to core identity.

Cultural adjustment involves more than learning new languages or customs; it requires psychological and emotional adaptation that can leave you feeling like a stranger in your own life. You may struggle with homesickness for familiar ways of doing things, frustration with miscommunication, loneliness from feeling misunderstood, or anxiety about making cultural mistakes that could offend others. The values, humor, food, and social rhythms that once felt automatic now require conscious thought and energy.

If you’re dealing with cultural adjustment, whether voluntary or necessary, you’re walking through one of life’s most challenging transitions that touches every aspect of daily living and personal identity. Scripture offers wisdom for navigating cultural differences with grace, finding identity that transcends cultural boundaries, and discovering how God works through diverse cultures to accomplish His purposes.

Bible Verses for Dealing with Cultural Adjustment

1. Revelation 7:9 – After This I Looked, and There Before Me Was a Great Multitude

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

New International Version (NIV)

2. Acts 17:26-27 – From One Man He Made All the Nations

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.

English Standard Version (ESV)

3. 1 Peter 2:11 – Dear Friends, I Urge You, as Foreigners and Exiles

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

New King James Version (NKJV)

4. Ruth 1:16 – But Ruth Replied, Don’t Urge Me to Leave You

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

New Living Translation (NLT)

5. Hebrews 11:13 – All These People Were Still Living by Faith When They Died

All these died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

6. Ephesians 2:19 – Consequently, You Are No Longer Foreigners and Strangers

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

7. Genesis 12:1 – The Lord Had Said to Abram, Go from Your Country

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

King James Version (KJV)

8. Jeremiah 29:7 – Also, Seek the Peace and Prosperity of the City

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

9. Galatians 3:28 – There Is Neither Jew nor Gentile

In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Message (MSG)

10. Colossians 3:11 – Here There Is No Gentile or Jew

[In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether] barbarian or Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free man, but Christ is all and in all [everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].

Amplified Bible (AMP)

11. Deuteronomy 10:19 – And You Are to Love Those Who Are Foreigners

So you must love the resident foreigner because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

New English Translation (NET)

12. Matthew 28:19 – Therefore Go and Make Disciples of All Nations

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

13. Acts 10:34-35 – Then Peter Began to Speak

Then Peter said, “I now realize that it is true that God treats all people the same. God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It doesn’t matter what race they are.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

14. 1 Corinthians 9:22 – I Have Become All Things to All People

Among the weak in faith I become weak like one of them, in order to win them. So I become all things to all people, that I may save some of them by whatever means are possible.

Good News Translation (GNT)

15. Isaiah 56:7 – These I Will Bring to My Holy Mountain

I will bring these people to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices on my altar, because my Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations.

New Century Version (NCV)

16. Romans 10:12 – For There Is No Difference Between Jew and Gentile

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich to all who call on him.

International Standard Version (ISV)

17. Leviticus 19:34 – The Foreigner Residing Among You Must Be Treated

The foreigner who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

Tree of Life Version (TLV)

18. Daniel 1:8 – But Daniel Resolved Not to Defile Himself

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. So he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Lexham English Bible (LEB)

19. 2 Corinthians 5:20 – We Are Therefore Christ’s Ambassadors

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

World English Bible (WEB)

20. Philippians 3:20 – But Our Citizenship Is in Heaven

For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

American Standard Version (ASV)

21. Acts 17:11 – Now the Berean Jews Were of More Noble Character

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

22. Esther 2:10 – Esther Had Not Revealed Her Nationality

Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.

New American Bible (NAB)

23. Genesis 47:9 – And Jacob Said to Pharaoh

And Iacob sayde vnto Pharao: The dayes of my pilgremage are an hundred and thirtie yeeres. Fewe and euyll haue the dayes of my lyfe bene, and haue not attayned vnto the yeres of the lyfe of my fathers in the dayes of their pilgremages.

Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)

24. 1 Chronicles 29:15 – We Are Foreigners and Strangers in Your Sight

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.

English Revised Version (ERV)

25. Psalm 39:12 – Hear My Prayer, Lord, Listen to My Cry for Help

Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

26. Exodus 22:21 – Do Not Mistreat or Oppress a Foreigner

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Darby Translation (DARBY)

27. Acts 8:27 – So He Started Out, and on His Way He Met an Ethiopian

And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.

Weymouth New Testament (WNT)

28. Psalm 146:9 – The Lord Watches Over the Foreigner

The Lord kepith comelingis; he schal take vp a fadirles child, and a widewe; and he schal destrie the weies of synneris.

Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

29. Numbers 15:15-16 – The Community Is to Have the Same Rules

One ordinance shalbe both for you of the Congregation, and also for the stranger that soiourneth with you, an ordinance for euer in your generations: as you are, so shall the stranger bee before the Lord.

Geneva Bible (GNV)

30. Deuteronomy 1:16 – And I Charged Your Judges at That Time

And I charged your iudges the same tyme, saying: Heare the causes betwene your brethren, and iudge ryghteously betwene euery man and his brother, and the straunger that is with hym.

Bishop’s Bible

31. Acts 2:5-6 – Now There Were Staying in Jerusalem

And there were dwellynge at Ierusalem Iewes, deuoute men, out of euery nacion of them that are vnder heauen. When this was noysed aboute, the multitude came together and were astonnyed, because that euery man hearde them speake his awne tonge.

Tyndale Bible

32. Romans 15:7 – Accept One Another, Then, Just as Christ Accepted You

So, warmly welcome one another into the church, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you; then God will be glorified.

The Living Bible (TLB)

33. Isaiah 19:23-25 – In That Day There Will Be a Highway from Egypt to Assyria

In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

The Passion Translation (TPT)

34. 1 Corinthians 12:13 – For We Were All Baptized by One Spirit

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

The Voice Bible (VOICE)

35. Malachi 1:11 – My Name Will Be Great Among the Nations

From where the sun rises to where it sets, my name will be honored among the nations. Everywhere, the best gifts will be brought to me. My name will be honored among the nations,” says the Lord who rules over all.

New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)

Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Cultural Adjustment

Scripture reveals that cultural diversity is part of God’s design for humanity rather than an obstacle to overcome, with His ultimate plan involving people “from every nation, tribe, people and language” worshiping together. The Bible consistently shows that God works through different cultures to accomplish His purposes while calling His people to maintain their spiritual identity regardless of their cultural context.

What strikes me most about biblical teaching on cultural adjustment is how it balances adaptation with faithfulness. Daniel serves as a powerful example of someone who learned to thrive in a foreign culture while maintaining his core convictions, and Paul’s approach of “becoming all things to all people” demonstrates strategic cultural flexibility in the service of the gospel. This suggests that cultural adjustment doesn’t require abandoning our values but learning to express them appropriately within different cultural frameworks.

The Bible also reveals that all believers are ultimately “foreigners and exiles” on earth, with our true citizenship in heaven. This eternal perspective can provide comfort during cultural adjustment by reminding us that feeling displaced is part of the human experience, this side of eternity. Scripture consistently calls us to seek the welfare of whatever culture we find ourselves in while remembering that no earthly culture is our permanent home.

Say This Prayer

Heavenly Father, this process of cultural adjustment has been more difficult than I anticipated, and I often feel like a stranger trying to navigate customs, languages, and social norms that feel completely foreign to me. Some days I feel homesick for familiar ways of doing things, and other days I feel frustrated by my inability to communicate effectively or fit in naturally.

Help me to see cultural diversity as part of Your beautiful design rather than as a burden to bear. Give me patience with myself as I learn new ways of thinking and behaving, and help me to extend grace to others who may not understand my background or perspective. Show me how to adapt appropriately while maintaining my core values and faith.

Provide opportunities for meaningful connections with people from both my original culture and my new cultural environment. Help me to be a bridge between different communities rather than someone who remains isolated or becomes a source of division. Give me wisdom to know when to adapt and when to maintain my distinctive perspectives.

Use this experience of cultural adjustment to deepen my empathy for others who feel displaced or misunderstood, and help me to be more welcoming to people from different backgrounds. Let me learn valuable lessons about different ways of seeing the world while maintaining my identity as Your child.

Most importantly, remind me that my ultimate citizenship is in heaven and that You are working through all cultures to accomplish Your purposes. Help me to contribute positively to whatever community I find myself in, while looking forward to the day when all cultural barriers will be removed in Your eternal kingdom.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.